Everything that was old is new again! From the original Mac computer to the Discman,
ZDNet
has unearthed a list of retro gadgets that need to be rebooted back into the fashion. This list provides a glimpse into what was popular back in the day and reminds us that the current generation will never truly experience the fun (or should we say "challenge") of trying to walk and listen to music at the same time, among other things.

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While there may not be an immediate need for these gadgets in today’s market, they could serve a purpose to help older generations reminisce and get back some of their youth. However, with a proper reboot and smart redesign, some of these technologies could make a significant impact in our lives once again.

Twelve members of
Forbes Technology Council
were asked which retro technologies they would bring back with new life if they had the chance. Here’s what they had to say:

1. Nintendo's R.O.B.

R.O.B. was a real attempt at introducing artificial intelligence into the real world. Obviously, sleight of hand played a role. However, it was phenomenal. Most AI today is dealing with the virtual world using direct input from its surroundings. A completely autonomous robot player with access to only line-of-sight, sound and manual controls would be massively adaptive to many other industries. - Daniel Hindi,
BuildFire

2. Polaroid Cameras

I have to admit that I love to collect old tech a bit more than new gadgets. I still have a Commodore64 that works and one of the original iPods. However, for retro gadgets, I am really happy that Polaroid cameras came back. We got our kids some for Christmas, and they absolutely love being able to take pictures and hold them in their hands. A novel concept, right? -
Marcus Turner,
Enola Labs

3. The Home Phone

With a home phone, it was nice having just one number that your parents could reach you at or that you can provide to your local school. The problem is that the home phone is just so boring! Why not add some internet-of-things elements like a
Wink
wall switch or using your home Wi-Fi to connect any existing device (cell, tablet, PC, etc.) to answer that one number. I sure miss using my old Mickey Mouse phone… - Michael Ringman,
TELUS International

4. Flip Phones

Flip phones are an attractive piece of retro technology that provide a simpler, smaller alternative to today’s smartphones. With cyberhacking on the rise, flip phones, unlike smartphones, generally do not store or contain the ability to share personal information. These features, along with increased battery life and durability, have seen it re-emerge in the realm of communications. - Alexandro Pando,
Xyrupt

5. Gaming Consoles

I see a trend of going back to the past in gaming. Instead of trying to create the old form factors like Super NES, why not just put the games natively on phones and tablets without the aesthetic cabinets and the like. There is a generation of people who would enjoy the older-style games. -
Jeff Bell,
LegalShield

6. Tamagotchi Pet

I would inject new life into Tamagotchi by helping kids learn how to code. Kids could learn how to automate the tasks that keep their pets alive. Once they succeed, they could receive more animals and eventually automate an entire farm. -
Thomas Griffin,
OptinMonster

7. Pagers And Blackberries

Technology evolves at a breakneck pace, but in our rush to innovate, we vault to the next high-tech platform without considering the merits of the preceding iteration. Take pagers and BlackBerries, for example. The BlackBerry’s keyboard was easy to use, and pagers kept you on notice but with concise messages and consistent connectivity. The merits of this tech could be integrated into modernized systems. -
Tammy Cohen,
InfoMart

Floppy disks introduced the concept of data on the go. In essence, each one was a portable personal data store that was immune to hacks. A makeover of the floppy disk so that it can consolidate data wirelessly into a biometric-controlled portable device and can organize itself into a personal timeline with voice search and the ability to detach itself from the risks of being connected could serve as a practical personal device in our modern era. - Amit Mondal,
PowerSchool

9. Phonograph

I'd love to see the old phonograph come back. There's something about the sound and fidelity of a good piece of vinyl that could never be reproduced in the perfection that is a digital music world. The cracks, hisses and pops could never be duplicated. -
Tyler Shields,
Signal Sciences

10. Character-Based User Interfaces

Things were simpler with old character-based user interfaces. Menu and navigation structures were fast, responsiveness was quick and distractions were few. Recent writing apps have been created that focus on the words rather than the fonts and layout. They are popular because it's the words that are important. Keep the best of what we have today but bring back the simplicity and focus of the past. - Paul Heller,
Sopheon

11. Nintendo Power Glove

The Nintendo Power Glove was ahead of its time! The concept and hype were silly back in the '90s, but having a wearable gaming sleeve in concert with virtual reality would be a major deal today. The technological and design advances would make the modern-day Power Glove a bestseller. - Pin Chen,
ONTRAPORT

12. Palm Pilot

They should definitely bring back the Palm Pilot, and not for any kind of functional reason, but just because I would absolutely love to walk into a meeting with a bunch of suits all sitting there with their iPad Pros and then pull out a souped-up Palm Pilot. I guess I’m something of a tech hipster. -
Ben Lee,
Neon Roots